Russia's state atomic energy corporation Rosatom has commenced loading nuclear fuel into the reactor of Bangladesh's first nuclear power plant, the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant. This significant step brings Bangladesh closer to becoming the 33rd country in the world to generate nuclear energy.
Milestone Achievement
The fuel loading process began on October 5, 2023, and is expected to take several days. Once completed, the reactor will be prepared for physical startup and subsequent power generation. The Rooppur plant, located in Pabna district, about 160 kilometers west of Dhaka, consists of two VVER-1200 reactors, each with a capacity of 1,200 megawatts.
Alexey Likhachev, Director General of Rosatom, stated, "This is a historic moment for Bangladesh-Russia cooperation. We are proud to support Bangladesh in its journey towards peaceful use of nuclear energy."
Project Background
The Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant is a flagship project under Bangladesh's long-term energy strategy. Construction began in 2017, with the first reactor expected to become operational by 2024. The plant is being built with Russian technology and financing, with a total project cost of around $12.65 billion. Russia has provided a loan covering 90% of the cost.
Once fully operational, the plant will generate about 2,400 megawatts of electricity, significantly boosting Bangladesh's power generation capacity and helping meet its growing energy demand.
Safety and Regulation
The fuel loading process is being conducted under strict safety protocols and oversight from the Bangladesh Atomic Energy Regulatory Authority (BAERA). Rosatom has emphasized that the VVER-1200 reactor meets all international safety standards, including post-Fukushima requirements.
Bangladesh's Science and Technology Minister Yeafesh Osman said, "We have ensured that all safety measures are in place. The fuel loading is a testament to the robustness of our regulatory framework."
Future Plans
The second reactor at Rooppur is also under construction and is expected to be completed by 2025. Bangladesh plans to further expand its nuclear energy capacity with additional plants in the future, as part of its goal to generate 10% of its electricity from nuclear sources by 2030.
The successful fuel loading marks a crucial step towards achieving energy security and reducing dependence on fossil fuels for Bangladesh.
